. >> reporter: governor mitt romney talked of his support of cutting defense spending. he said it would be up thinkable cutting defense spending now. >> the world is not a safe place it. remains dangerous. >> reporter: governor romney explains to have a strong military a strong economy is needed. >> our economy needs to be reinvigorated and the president has laid out his plan. it's a continuation of the old plan. we can't afford four more years of the last four years, all right? >> reporter: governor romney not only said that he would stop shrinking the military but would add to the active duty force and one of the figures came when he quoted ronald reagan. >> peace comes through strength. i want to have a military that's so strong no one wants to test it. >> the people that are out there fighting these wars, we owe them support forever and i think governor romney is totally supportive of that. >> reporter: but that's not the opinion of veteran jim dillard who represented springfield for 30 years in the virginia house of delegates. >> now they talk about cutting the dom